By Cpl. Colby Brown
GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province — They had set off from COP Rankel to a local health clinic, with the original mission of handing out hygiene packets, as part of 1st Bn's health initiative. While teaching a group of local women how to use each item, a midwife from Safar Bazaar sought out Baker and Rios to help deliver a baby.
“We were more excited than some of the people who were there,” said Baker. “It was her first born, her first child, and we were just happy to help her out.” During the delivery they held the mother’s legs, and provided encouragement despite the language barrier. Baker and Rios checked the baby after it was born, to make sure it was breathing, and gave water to the mother. Both the mother and child were found to be medically sound.“It changed my perspective of the local women,” said Baker. “This woman didn’t receive any pain medication before or during childbirth.” When Staff Sgt. Kimberly Nalepka, the FET squad leader in Garmsir, first heard about the delivery, she said, "the event exemplifies the unique role that FET plays here."“If the FET wasn’t here, then we wouldn’t have been able to engage with the midwife to begin with, let alone help with the birth,” Nalepka added. “As female Marines we help strengthen relationships in the local communities, because we can interact with the women where male Marines can’t, especially in a case like this where we helped in the birth of a child.”“I think it was incredible,” said Nalepka. “The timing was perfect. Baker and Rios are originally from a base north of COP Rankel. It was just meant to be to have a team down there.”The visit to the Safar Bazaar was part of FET’s recent focus of reaching out to areas in the district that don't currently have organic FETs at company positions. “It helped spread the word to the local women that females from other countries are here, and want to help them,” Baker said. “When we go see the women, they're excited, because most of them have never seen American women before.”For the UAS Plt. of Co B, a conversation such as this between UAS operators and their crew chief, happens on a regular basis at FOB Sharana. "The UAS Shadow is a remotely controlled aircraft with a camera attached, that provides cmdrs. with recon and surveillance, without putting any Soldiers in harm’s way," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Percell Hunter, a UAS plt. leader for Co. B.
In addition to its recon capabilities, the system can also point out targets to ground troops, and carry a communications relay package, that allows 2 groups who are out of line-of-sight from each other to communicate, an ability of great importance in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, where TF Duke is operating. "It does this by flying between the 2 groups, and bouncing the transmission from one group to the Shadow, then to the other group," Hunter said.
“It also gives cmdrs. a chance to see what they normally can’t,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Mikrut, the UAS plt. sgt. “The UAS Shadow provides them with a situational awareness they wouldn't normally have.”
"Being part of the UAS crew means having to juggle a lot of different tasks. For that reason, operators have to be able to multitask," said Sgt. Alex Keehn, a UAS operator with the BSTB. “There's so much you have to be aware of when you fly a UAS,” Keehn said. “You have to be aware of wind speed, temp, humidity, and other aircraft in the area.”
"Communication plays a big part in the completion of successful UAS missions," said Sgt. Bill Parris, a UAS maintainer with Co. B. “You have to have situational awareness of air traffic or changes in wind speed, because the UAS operators can’t see everything,” he explained.
For Parris, the conversation between operator and maintainer is like a ping pong game. "With helicopters and other aircraft using the same air space, the maintainer-operator conversation isn’t the only important one," said Mikrut. “There are a lot of airspace communications,” Mikrut said. “Sometimes the airspace you are flying in gets taken away, because another aircraft needs it more. You have to be quick to respond in those situations.”
"To prepare for deployment, the UAS team undertook several flight ops training exercises," Hunter said.
"The training that they received at their home-base of Fort Knox is a benefit to them in Afghanistan," Parris said. However, they received several new Soldiers, since arriving in country who didn't have the chance to train with the unit.
“It’s kind of a trial by fire” Parris said. “They just have to get in there and do it. While deployed they've plenty of opportunity to train and learn their job.”
"The environment of eastern Afghanistan has many differences, compared to Fort Knox, that the crew has to be aware of when flying, Mikrut said." For starters, they're at an altitude of 7,300 feet, and the air density is different than it would be at sea level, or even Fort Knox. This makes take-offs and landings more complicated.
"Being aware of these differences is important, and knowing what to do in any conditions can mean the difference between landing a bird safely, or losing it," Mikrut said.
MARJAH, Helmand province – Before Afghan and CF began security ops last year, the insurgency cast an oppressive shadow over the city’s residents. Few local citizens stood up to the insurgents for fear of kidnapping or death. Times were dark, but one family decided enough was enough, and stood up for what was right, knowing full well the risks.
“The whole area supported the insurgency, but Mohammad Razul’s family stood up and said that they wanted to live differently,” said 1st Lt. Joseph Falvey, the Weapons Plt cmdr. for Kilo Co. “They were sick of the oppression and coercion. Even though there was no guarantee, and it was going to take a lot of sacrifice, they were going to try and give the govt a chance.” Razul, a young, charismatic, local leader, and his family became victims of a desperate grasp for power by the insurgency, for their actions. In August 2010, Razul, accompanied by his father, uncle and brother, sat upon the steps of a local mosque near their home. Three or 4 insurgents crept behind a nearby wall and sprayed gunfire at the mosque, aiming for the family. Razul and his uncle ran to their compound to get weapons and fight back, but upon retuning, the insurgents had fled, and his father and brother lay lifeless on the steps of the mosque. Since that day ANA soldiers, ALP, and AUP have steadily increased the security in the city, aided and mentored by U.S. Marines. “I've lost 4 brothers and 18 soldiers in the years of fighting, between the insurgents and the Afghan govt,” said Sgt. Marjani, an AUP cmdr., and local resident. “When the ANA and the Americans came, a lot changed. We can patrol through the area, and there are no IEDs, no ambushes, and no insurgents. The security in Marjah is much better than it was one year ago.” “It’s been gradual. At first Marines led the patrols; now we're where we wanted to be all along, where ANA are leading patrols, and Marines are advising and mentoring,” added Marjani. “Soon we'll be able to transition completely, where the ANSF provide security, without the aid of the Marines.”Razul has taken on the responsibilities that his father and brother left behind. He has been working closely with local govt officials and SecFor, to improve security and show the Afghan people that if they stand up to the insurgency, they'll have support from the ANA, police and Afghan govt.
A weekly radio broadcast titled “Line of Marjah” recently featured Razul on air as a prominent member of ANSF, who is making a difference in his community. After the broadcast, Razul said that his friends and family who heard the show were impressed. They told him that he's showing the people the progress that can be made by working with the govt, and that there are a lot of opportunities for those who are ready to take back their community from the insurgency.
Razul, with the help of the GoA and Marines, has been able to refurbish the once-desecrated mosque. One year to the day after the deadly attack, he invited members of local security forces, Marines and sailors with Kilo Co, and district gov. Mutalib to a feast at his compound, to celebrate the mosque’s reopening, and honor the deaths of his father and brother. Razul held the dinner at sundown in observance of the ritual fasting of Ramadan. Children placed lavish dishes of meat, rice and bread before those seated, and prominent local military leaders gave speeches to the gathered guests. The feast ended as the sun’s pink and orange hues dropped below the horizon, but the strength and courage of Razul’s family continued to resonate through the assembled visitors.BAGRAM AIR FIELD – From a chance encounter at a Baptist church in Georgia, Maj. Tammie Crews was able to build relationships across the world in Afghanistan. Maj. Crews met Mashuq Askerzada at a church near Fort Benning, Ga. Askerzada was born in Afghanistan and left for the U.S. decades ago. They built a friendship that lasted after Crews left the area. When Crews joined the "Lifeliners" to deploy to Afghanistan, Askerzada put her in contact with his sister still in Afghanistan.
35 years have passed since Askerzada had stepped foot in America, and seen his sister, Najiba. Since the siblings last saw each other, Najiba followed their mother’s lead, and worked to progress women’s rights in Afghanistan. When King Zahir Shah’s govt granted women emancipation in the 1960s, their mother was one of the first to take off the Burkha, and embrace the change with open arms. Najiba has risen to an active role in politics, by running for office in Kabul and Kunduz. Her daughter, Geety, has worked for women’s rights in her own way, by working her way up to become a school principal in Kabul. “Being a school teacher, she’s really trying to educate girls,” Crews said. “Najiba is working in the political system. They’re really at the forefront of women’s issues, and giving women a voice in the society.” The women and Crews talked for months through emails, trying to arrange a meeting. All through these months of talking, Crews gathered donations from several sources for the girls of Geety’s school. Chapels at Fort Campbell sent children’s hygiene kits that were put together during the summer vacation bible schools. Crews also set aside schools supplies sent in the plethora of care packages she distributes to soldiers here. School supplies were also sent from Jason’s Box, a non-profit org., that sends care packages to deployed soldiers. When the brigade was approached by Jason’s Box this past spring, the "Lifeliners" asked the org. to instead send school supplies for the chaplain’s mission to the women here. Clothes, blankets and infant supplies were also donated by Op Care and Comfort from San Jose, Calif., Lindon Police Dept wives from Lindon, Utah, and Adopt-A-Platoon. During the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan, Crews, Najiba and Geety met up at the bde. HQ. They spent an afternoon sitting around talking and sharing stories. Najiba was especially eager to know what her brother’s 3 children looked like, since she has never met her nephews and niece. When the time came for the women to part ways, Crews gave her visitors the nearly 60 boxes of donations. They used these donations to help the young schoolgirls, who often go without the most basic of needs. The timing of the meeting and donations had a special meaning for the women. Ramadan is a time of fasting and helping the less fortunate. “Even though we didn’t plan it, it’s a season of giving near the end of Ramadan, much like the Christmas season,” Crews said. “It was a symbol of giving to them from the American Army to those that are in need.”-30-
DVIDS
Navy Chaplain Carries Tragic Memories of 9/11
CAMP LEATHERNECK - Though he’s spent the past 23 years in the Navy, Rondall Brown’s thick drawl, formed in the Blue Ridge Mountains, distinctly makes its presence known when one word crosses the chaplain’s lips – horror.
Brown’s introduction to horror came to a lt. cmdr. serving as a chaplain for a Coast Guard unit in New England. Brown spent several weeks in N.Y.’s Ground Zero, immediately following 9/11. “I remember one lady collapsing and just crying out, ‘Oh my God, my baby, I will never see her again.’ Her husband stood there, big guy, clenched fists, with tears streaming down his face. He never said a word,” Brown spoke with long pauses, successfully repelling waves of persistent tears. “I apologize,” the chaplain said, running his fingers through his short crop of gray hair. “I’m not normally like this.”“In one sense being here brings a peace for me,” said Brown, his face flushed red with emotion. “We're doing something to prevent it from occurring again. If you had been there, and have the vivid memories I do of the horror these families went through, it’s unimaginable. There was nothing to take home. There were no bodies.” Brown seemed to recall everyone he led through the devastation in Manhattan. A young man who worked on the 32nd floor of one of the Twin Towers. His wife of five months worked on the 94th, and over the phone she persuaded him to leave the building. He stood outside the door until he was pushed back by firefighters, eventually all the way to the water’s edge. Even as he was swallowed by the dust of the collapse, he held the cell phone to his ear. A tall woman with short blonde hair who lost her fiancé, a fireman, when he responded to the attack. A brother and sister who had come from California. Their brother turned 65, Sept. 10., prior to being killed in the collapse. The man had just beaten cancer, and the siblings had just celebrated his victory over the disease. “In one sense it seems much longer than 10 years ago, but in another sense it feels just like yesterday. I think for the people who had loved ones die, it’s a very vivid memory,” Brown said staring at the floor, allowing memories to carry him back to New York. “It was such a stench. I can smell it to this day,” Brown said. “They gave me a little ol’ mask to wear, but I never wore it. You can’t talk to people and wear a mask.”“There’s never a measurement you can put on the loss of a life, civilian or military. But, should we be here? Yes, I think so,” Brown said. “People here are beginning to take leadership. They’re feeling confident with support from the govt, with support from the American and coalition troops. When I was in Iraq in Al Anbar, the tide turned there when the people said to the insurgency, ‘OK, we've had enough of what you're doing to the innocent civilians.’”-30-
ISAF Joint Command
South
ZABUL PROVINCE -- In Qalat District, an Afghan and coalition combined SecFor detained numerous suspected insurgents, during a security op targeting a Taliban facilitator, yesterday. The facilitator assists with roadside bomb attacks against ANSF operating in the area.HELMAND PROVINCE -- An Afghan and coalition combined SecFor detained several suspected insurgents, during a security op targeting a Taliban leader in Sangin District, yesterday. The leader coordinates roadside bomb attacks with subordinate Taliban chiefs, and provides weapons and military guidance for attack planning in the region.----- In Sangin, a combined Afghan and coalition SecFor detained 2 suspected insurgents, yesterday, during a security op. The leader operates in Kotozay village, and provides support and guidance for Taliban members in Sangin District. EastWARDAK -- In Sayyidabad District, a combined Afghan and coalition SecFor detained several Haqqani insurgents, during a security op. The SecFor detained the men, while conducting a series of ops aimed at disrupting a local attack cell, whose members have been planning an upcoming attack in Kabul city. According to reports from citizens, the cell was planning to use a car bomb for an attack at the end of the Eid al-Fitr holiday.KHOST PROVINCE – A combined Afghan and coalition SECFOR detained a Haqqani Network leader and 2 of his assocs., in Musa Khel District, yesterday. The leader was involved with other Haqqani insurgents in coordinating an upcoming attack in Kabul city. Recent reporting indicates he was facilitating a potential car bomb for the pending attack.
Col. Michael Pappal, cmdr. of 1st AATF, 1st ID, welcomes Mullah Hussein, dir. of the Sunni Endowment in Kirkuk, to the 8th Annual Partnership Dinner, hosted at COB Warrior, Aug. 24, 2011. The dinner provided an opportunity for attendees to enhance civic relationships and cooperation among U.S. forces, and the administrative and political leadership of Kirkuk prov. “Change to a better future must be in the heart, not just in person,” said Mullah Hussein. “Change takes more than just an appearance. Everyone here must do their part to build Kirkuk into a great city.”
An Iraqi pilot checks over the plane at Kirkuk Air Base. He's checking the plane for unwanted cracks that could cause trouble during the flight. (AF photo by Senior Airman Tristin English)
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE -- Since the Iraqi pilot training program began in 2008, more than 60 Iraqi pilots have earned their wings, under the tutelage of U.S. advisors. The pilot program has also produced 30 instructor pilots who, along with U.S. advisors, will continue to educate and train students to strengthen the IqAF.
Iraqi pilot training at Kirkuk is similar to initial flight school for U.S. military pilots. Lt. Col. Ned Sandlin, 521st Air Expeditionary Advisory Sqdn cmdr., said that the Iraqis learn the basics of flying. This includes attention to detail, airmanship and foundational flying skills, such as instrumentation, flying off the terrain, and aircraft handling characteristics.
“The Iraqis get a very similar feel to what training is like in the states,” Sandlin said when comparing the Kirkuk program to undergraduate pilot training in the U.S. “It’s so similar that any U.S. instructor pilot can come over here, and quickly recognize and adapt to the way the sqdn. operates.”
All potential Iraqi pilots attend initial flight screening for 2 months, followed by 10 months of training in the Cessna 172 and Cessna Caravan 208 aircraft. From there, they'll fly a transport, recon, or Iraqi fighter aircraft.“We like for most of the instructing to be done by the Iraqi pilots,” said Sandlin, deployed from Wright-Patterson AF Base, Ohio. “Our mission is to teach the Iraqis to be teachers of the aircraft.” U.S. pilots usually fly with Iraqi instructors to boost production, and help their instructional skills.“I’ve learned so much from our instructors,” said one Iraqi instructor pilot about his U.S. advisors. “They're patient with the students, and are helping us become better pilots and a better AF. It’s great to use what they’ve taught me to help teach others.”Sandlin said that the progress of the Iraqi pilots is outstanding, and bodes well for their bright future. “We're trying to build up their capabilities for the future,” he said. “It’s important for a country to have a strong AF, in order to defend their airspace and the borders.”Sandlin said that Iraq will be a long-term, strategic partner with the U.S., and it’s extremely important to have Iraq as an ally. Building a foundation with Iraqi pilot training is a key element to future relations.“The people we're teaching at Kirkuk are going to be future leaders in the IqAF,” Sandlin said. “When you consider every single pilot will come through Kirkuk at one point or another, you know they're future leaders in their AF. It’s incredibly important to build good relationships that last a lifetime.”